Part 6 (1/2)
”Are we keeping the leaks under, Mr Chisel?” asked the commander, when he came to make his report.
”No, sir, I am sorry to say we are not,” he answered. ”There are three feet of water in the hold, and I fear, from the damages the s.h.i.+p has received, that no power can keep her afloat much longer. If we cannot repair them, you know, sir, that it won't be for want of our doing our best.”
”I am very sure of that, Mr Chisel, and hope that we may still overcome the leaks, if the sea continues tolerably smooth,” observed the commander. ”But we must not let the pumps be idle.” He said this in a cheerful tone, that those who overheard the carpenter's report might not lose heart.
The s.h.i.+p was now standing out clear of the ice, and being thus more exposed than before to the sea, which rolled in from the northward, began to labour heavily. In a short time the carpenter again reported that the water had gained another foot on the pumps in spite of the incessant way they had been kept going. The commander now summoned the superior officers round him, though what was said was not generally known. The first-lieutenant instantly collecting a party of men, led them between-decks, where, aided by some of the soldiers, they at once set to work to heave overboard such heavy stores and provisions as could be got at. Everything that had been received at the Cape was thrown overboard. The purser was in despair. ”Remember, Tobin,” he observed, ”we have got all these mouths to feed. We may as well drown at first as starve.”
”You are right, purser,” answered the first-lieutenant. ”We will get up what provisions we can, and place them on the upper deck. They will soon be destroyed if they remain where they are.”
At length the s.h.i.+p got clear of the ice, and now the crew were piped below to s.n.a.t.c.h a hasty meal, those only required to work the rudder and the pump gangs remaining on duty. Matters did not change much till the sun went down in a bank of dark clouds, its rays casting a ruddy glow across the western sky. As darkness came on, the wind increased, the waters becoming covered with crests of foam, which danced and hissed around the s.h.i.+p. No one could be ignorant of their dangerous position; but in spite of it, most of the weary seamen and soldiers not actually on duty turned into their berths to sleep. The officers did so likewise, though they were aware that it might perhaps be the last sleep they should ever enjoy. Two persons, however, did not for a moment retire to their berths, the commander of the s.h.i.+p and the colonel of the regiment. Both felt that the lives of the people under them had been committed to their charge. The commander remained on deck to take advantage of any change for the better which might occur, or to guard against any fresh accident; and the colonel, that he might go among his men labouring at the pumps, and encourage them to persevere in their duty. The hammocks had been piped down as usual, and most of the men turned into them all standing. w.i.l.l.y Dicey had done the same, though, weary as he was, he could not for some time go to sleep--an unusual event in a mids.h.i.+pman's career. He was thinking of home and the loved ones there, and those voyaging like himself; and when he did sleep, he continued dreaming of, that same home, and of his brother and sisters, now probably far distant from it. He fancied in his troubled dreams that he saw their s.h.i.+p tempest-tossed. Now her masts and yards were shattered. Onward she drove towards a rocky sh.o.r.e. He was there himself; he stretched out his arms, imploring them to keep at a distance. Still on came the s.h.i.+p; her destruction seemed inevitable.
Wildly he waved his arms--he shrieked loudly. A dreadful crash was heard--the s.h.i.+p was split into a thousand fragments. He awoke. That loud crash rang in his ears; he sprang from his hammock, and rushed on deck. One of the jury-masts had gone.
Morning was breaking, the faint grey light exhibiting the destruction which had taken place, and the wild leaden-coloured sea, which rose in foaming billows around, now leaping here, now there, threatening destruction to the s.h.i.+p. At the same moment the boatswain's whistle sounded shrilly, calling all hands on deck. While one party was endeavouring to secure the jury-mast which had been carried away, another was employed in fothering a sail: this, filled with oak.u.m, was lowered over the bows and drawn under the keel, where it was hoped the water rus.h.i.+ng in would suck it into the leaks, and thus contribute to stop them. It seemed, however, to have but little effect.
”We must try another sail,” said the commander. The sail was prepared, and, like the first, with great difficulty dragged under the s.h.i.+p's bottom. The seamen employed in the work were drenched to the skin by the heavy seas which frequently broke over the hapless s.h.i.+p; still they persevered, no one flinching from the work. Harry Shafto attracted the notice of the commander by his activity. w.i.l.l.y Dicey imitated him to the best of his power. Although not so strong as a man, by his intelligence and comprehension of what was to be done he was able to direct others, and thus rendered good service.
”I say, Dicey,” exclaimed Peter Patch, who was standing near him, ”do you think really the s.h.i.+p will go down? I feel awfully queer. I wish that I'd followed your advice about some things long ago. I should like to say my prayers, but I don't know how to begin, and there isn't time for it now.”
”That's it,” answered w.i.l.l.y. ”Had you said them morning and night, and not have been afraid of our messmates laughing at you, you would have known how to say them even while you are hard at work. I don't think G.o.d would be well pleased if we all were to knock off, and go down on our knees to pray and ask Him for help while we were neglecting to help ourselves.”
”I must work now, at all events,” said Peter.
”Of course you must,” answered w.i.l.l.y, ”or praying would be mockery; but you can pray out of your heart while you are pulling and hauling, or while you are running along the deck with a message.”
”I daresay you are right, Dicey,” sighed Peter; ”but it's very terrible.
I had no thought, when we left England, that we should get into such a sc.r.a.pe as this. For what I see, we may all be drowned, or be driven on those fearful icebergs, and be frozen to death before many days are over.”
”Very true, Peter. I have been thinking the same; but it is our duty to struggle to the end--first to try and save the s.h.i.+p, and then our own lives.”
Matters did not mend as the day advanced. Again and again the carpenter sounded the well, and reported that the water had rather increased than diminished. The after-part of the deck was now scuttled, so that more provisions and stores could be got up and hove overboard. The pumps continued to be worked as energetically as at first, but still the water gained on them, till it reached the orlop-deck.
The fearful condition of the s.h.i.+p could no longer be concealed from the people. Even the most sanguine began to lose heart. Many cast wistful glances at the boats. Notwithstanding this, the commander kept them labouring at the pumps, still hoping against hope that the wind and sea might go down, and that the s.h.i.+p might be kept afloat. At length, however, some of the crew showed signs of giving in. w.i.l.l.y saw several of them steal off to hide themselves away, but he instantly followed and drove them up again; they grumbled, but obeyed.
”What's the use of working when we shall have to go to the bottom in a few hours?” exclaimed one.
”I only wish we had a chance of getting to the spirit room,” cried another. ”A short life and a merry one for me.”
”You should be ashamed of yourselves,” cried the young mids.h.i.+pman. ”Are you men with souls, and do you wish to die like dogs?” The seamen, astonished at a mere boy thus addressing them, felt ashamed, and returned to their duty. Others, however, soon afterwards were seen behaving in the same manner. w.i.l.l.y, falling in with Mr Bolland, reported what he had observed.
”We will soon put a stop to that,” observed the boatswain, seizing a rope's end. He was not long in hunting out the fellows.
The water continuing to rise, the poor women and children were now collected on the p.o.o.p cabins.
There they sat, crouching down on the deck, holding their children in their arms, and hiding their pallid faces. Mrs Rumbelow was the only one who remained calm. She might have been a little more excited than usual, as she went among them, trying to cheer them up. ”Do not be downhearted, my dear women,” she exclaimed. ”There is a G.o.d in heaven, remember, who takes care of us. He may make the storm to cease, and keep the old s.h.i.+p afloat notwithstanding all the leaks she has got in her bottom. Do you think the men of our regiment are not going to do their duty, and work away at the pumps as long as the pumps will work?
If they do not, we will go and handle them ourselves, and put them to shame. Hurrah, la.s.ses! you think better of your young husbands than to suppose that, and we old ones have tried ours, and know that they will not s.h.i.+rk their duty.” Still, though Mrs Rumbelow spoke thus cheerfully, she had a heavy weight at her heart. She had been too often at sea not to know the danger the s.h.i.+p was in, and she observed no signs of the weather improving.
The night was again drawing on; Commander Newcombe had done his utmost.
The s.h.i.+p was kept under easy sail, to relieve her as much as possible.
He would get another sail fothered, which might help to keep out the water a few hours longer. ”Should that fail,” he observed to Mr Tobin, ”we must get the boats ready, and endeavour to save the lives of as many as they can hold.”